The influence of social and endocrine factors on urine-marking by captive wolves (Canis lupus).
Although serum hormones varied seasonally in all adult animals, only dominant male and female wolves urine-marked. Serum testosterone and urine-marking rates, which increased during the fall/winter breeding season, were positively correlated in both male and female dominant wolves. Estradiol, which increased in conjunction with proestrus and estrus, was not correlated with female urine-marking. These findings suggest that hormonal influence on urine-marking in the wolf is modulated by social factors and contrast with those for both domestic dogs and coyotes, two other members of the genus Canis.
Asa
C S
CS
Department of Biochemistry, University of Minnesota, St. Paul 55108.
Mech
L D
LD
Seal
U S
US
Plotka
E D
ED
D000818:Animals; D002335:Carnivora / Q000502:physiology*; D002940:Circadian Rhythm / Q000502:physiology; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D011374:Progesterone / Q000097:blood; D012724:Sex Attractants / Q000502:physiology*; D012726:Sexual Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology*; D012931:Social Environment; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood*; D014554:Urination / Q000502:physiology
D012724:Sex Attractants; D013739:Testosterone; D011374:Progesterone; D004958:Estradiol